Apullen

Leaks can waste hundreds of gallons and are usually silent!

Even a small leak can add up to a lot of wasted water and money over time! Fortunately, most leaks are easy and inexpensive to repair.

Toilet Leaks

To help determine if you have a leaking toilet, simply remove the tank lid and place a few drops of food coloring in back of the toilet tank. (If you don’t have food coloring, you can purchase dye tabs from any hardware or home center). Wait about 30 minutes, without flushing, and then look in the toilet bowl to see of any color has come through. If the water is clear, water is not leaking. If you see food coloring in the bowl you have a leak.

FLAPPER VALVE LEAKS

The most common reason for a leaking toilet is one that has an improperly working or sealing flapper. The flapper is the rubber valve in the bottom of the tank that lifts up when the toilet is flushed. If the flapper is worn or cracked, it allows water to continuously flow from the tank into the toilet bowl without flushing.

FLUSH HANDLE PROBLEMS

The most common reason for a leaking toilet is one that has an improperly working or sealing flapper. The flapper is the rubber valve in the bottom of the tank that lifts up when the toilet is flushed. If the flapper is worn or cracked, it allows water to continuously flow from the tank into the toilet bowl without flushing.

Leaking Faucets

Leaking faucets are generally a result of a worn rubber washer. The washer on a sink is usually located under the handle. These are relatively easy to replace, if you have the right tools. It does require shutting off the water under the sink or at the main shutoff valve and removing the handle. (Note: faucet handles are not shutoff valves.) Check your local home center or hardware store on how to repair faucet leaks.

Watering Your Lawn

Wise watering practices not only conserve water but help to build a stronger, healthier lawn. Constant over watering or frequent underwatering promotes shallow roots, a sure way to damage your lawn during times of stress. These stressful times for your lawn include not only the hot summer months, but also the cold winter months when there is really nothing you can do for an unhealthy lawn. The healthiest lawns have the healthiest roots. The best watering practices moisten the soil 4-6 inches deep; this is the extent of the root zone, and requires only about 1 inch of water.

When To Water Your Lawn

Water your lawn at the first signs of moisture stress. The easiest way to tell if moisture stress is present is to look for footprints on your lawn. When you can see footprints on your lawn (meaning your lawn doesn’t spring back up after you have walked across it) water your lawn. Do not water again until you see footprints again. Water when the sun will cause the least evaporation. Watering in the early morning is best. The next best practice is to water in the evening, but do it early enough so the grass is not wet overnight, which could enhance fungal growth. Other signs include: a bluish gray color, wilted, folded, or curled leaves.

How much water do I need to moisten the soil 4-6 inches deep?

1″ for clay soils

1/2″ for sandy soils

How Do I Know When I’ve Put Out 1 Inch of Water?

This is easy! Put a few old cans out on the lawn next time you water. When they fill up 1 inch – you’re done. Check how long that took. Next time you water just turn on the sprinklers for that amount of time.

How Else Can Good Watering Practices Help My Lawn?

Overwatering may cause fertilizers to penetrate below the root zone. This is not only a waste of water, but a waste of fertilizer too, both of which translate into a waste of money. Also, this enhances the possibility that chemicals may penetrate groundwater.

Overwatering can cause runoff. Runoff occurs when the water falling on the soil exceeds the amount that can be absorbed at that time. This can lead to fertilizer runoff, erosion, loss of newly sown seed, and water dollars washing down the street. If the time it takes for you to put out 1 inch of water causes runoff, then divide that time in two and leave some time in between. This is a good practice to follow on slopes where runoff obviously occurs more quickly.